Wave of Iraqis not coming to Lincoln - yet

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BY ART HOVEY / Lincoln Journal Star

Just a few weeks ago, Jeff Vandenberg of Lutheran Refugee Services in Omaha was predicting a surge in the arrival of Iraqi refugees in Lincoln — and the nation — by the end of September.

Now he isn’t so sure how close the federal government will come to a national goal of 7,000 arrivals.

And he’s doubtful of much follow-through any time soon on circumstances in which Church World Services, parent agency to Lutheran Refugee Services in Nebraska, named Lincoln one of 10 host cities for so-called “free cases,” Iraqis coming to places where they have no family ties.

Speaking of the 7,000 estimate, “I’d be very surprised if we reach that benchmark,” he said.

And speaking of Lincoln, “we’ve still had no specific indication of any arrivals that we might see this (fiscal) year in Lincoln.”

The U.S. State Department and the Department of Homeland Security are trying to respond to situations where Iraqis friendly to the U.S. military cause are at risk.

But Leslie Phillips, speaking for the State Department from Washington, stressed the 7,000 figure was only a target agreed to in recent discussions with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

“We had an agreement with them that they would make at least 7,000 referrals to the United States by the end of the fiscal year,” Phillips said. “Actually, we’ve already received 8,000 refugee referrals.”

As those referrals move into the U.S. immigration system, Lincoln’s regional service center could be among immigration checkpoints devoting more attention to processing Iraqi cases.

But Marilu Cabrera, regional spokeswoman for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services in Chicago, said the State Department will handle the first part of that task from overseas offices.

“We get involved a little later in the process,” Cabrera said, “when we interview individuals that have been pre-screened and we do background checks.”

Some critics of the U.S. invasion of Iraq suggest the Bush administration should feel more of a responsibility for admitting Iraqi refugees who assisted the military.

Phillips said the U.S. had 202 Iraqi refugee admissions in fiscal 2006.

Through June 30, the 2007 total was 133.

Sweden, widely regarded as a European haven for Iraqis who are often fleeing for their lives, reported 18,000 came there during 2006 seeking asylum.

Why so much disparity?

“Honestly, I don’t have an answer for you on that,” Phillips said.

For the majority of Iraqis who have fled areas of violent and daily confrontation, “our main objective is to get these folks back to their homes in Iraq,” she said.

Lutheran Refugee Services official Vandenberg also steered clear of comparisons in countries taking refugees.

“I think this is a very politically charged issue,” he said, “and it’s a situation with a conflict involved in Iraq.

“And the fact that the U.S. is considering resettlement of Iraqi refugees would have people on edge.”

He commended President Bush and the U.S. Congress for trying to pick up the pace on accepting Iraqi refugees.

“But by the same token, I also understand their desire to move very slowly and deliberately with that on the screening process.”

The State Department’s Phillips said more progress will be made by Sept. 30. By then, “we do anticipate that close to 2,000 Iraqis will successfully complete all the steps necessary to their arrival.”

As another measure of U.S. resolve, “the U.S. will accelerate the pace of these interviews, and several thousand more will be interviewed by Sept. 30.”

David Forsythe, a University of Nebraska-Lincoln political science professor and monitor of immigration developments, put a different spin on why the U.S. has been so far down on the list of refugee destinations.

Considering the U.S. is intent on stabilizing Iraq, “it’s a reflection on our policies that so much of the Iraqi middle class is trying to flee the country,” Forsythe said.

“Obviously, it’s embarrassing when you think about it. And, of course, Sweden doesn’t face that dilemma.”

However, he noted even Sweden is now reacting to the burden of such a large refugee influx. The Associated Press recently reported officials there are tightening asylum rules and deporting Iraqis who are denied permission to stay.

Reach Art Hovey at (402) 523-4949 or at ahovey@alltel.net.